What about what the statement says?

- The Minister's tool is a code, not a licence. Chapter 2 of the Tourism Act 3 of 2014 lets the Minister issue Codes of Good Practice (section 8(a)) to guide conduct relating to tourism services, facilities and products. - No power to regulate short-term rentals. The statement says the Tourism Act "does not empower" the Minister to regulate them. The code is therefore guidance. - Municipalities lead on land use. Under the Constitution, municipalities are the primary authority on municipal planni

What about what this means for a host today?

On this evidence, a South African host is not asked to obtain a national short-term rental number. The things to check are local: the zoning and any by-law of your municipality, plus whatever the code asks if it is finalised. The ministerial statement itself describes short-term rentals as an established part of the tourism landscape that supports geographic spread and household incomes.

What about what the source does not say?

It does not describe what the draft code contains, whether it covers registration, safety or insurance, or how it would apply to platforms. It does not mention grading (the voluntary star grading scheme was not read here), tourism levies, tax, or the by-laws of Cape Town or any other city. We attempted to read a Cape Town short-term letting FAQ but could not retrieve it, so no city rule is stated.

Do I need to register my short-term rental in South Africa?

The national statement we read does not create a registration duty. Check your municipality.

What is the Code of Good Practice?

A guide issued under the Tourism Act, published in draft in 2026 for comment. It is guidance, per the statement.

Municipalities, according to the Department.

What about once you are registered?

Registration makes you legal. Distribution is a separate job. Fursat does not list homes in South Africa; our guest stays are in India. If you also own or manage a property in India, start at /list-your-property, and the free channel manager guide explains how calendar sync across booking sites works. For the basics that carry across markets, read How to Start a Homestay in India.

Journal/Homestay Guides

3 min read · 7 October 2026

South Africa Short-Term Rentals. Draft National Code and Local Rules

South Africa's Tourism Department says the Tourism Act does not give the Minister power to regulate short-term rentals. A draft Code of Good Practice was published for comment in 2026.

Sneha Surana

south-africashort-term-rentalcode-of-good-practice

South Africa Short-Term Rentals. Draft National Code and Local Rules

Keep reading.

Do I need to register my short-term rental in South Africa?

What is the Code of Good Practice?

Who decides zoning?